West Orange Senior Home Preps For Growing LGBT Population

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Making the transition to a nursing home or retirement community can be tough for any senior citizen, and even more so when you’re gay, according to some LGBT rights advocates.

But with education, training and respect, senior citizen communities and nursing homes like Green Hill in West Orange are making enormous strides preparing for a growing LGBT elder population, according to national advocacy nonprofit SAGE USA.

The nonprofit recently certified Green Hill with “Platinum Status” in recognition of the senior living community’s training program for caregivers of LGBT older adults, as well as its cultural competency training on subjects related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Green Hill spokespeople stated in a news release that the company recognizes that the LGBT community will continue to grow - and to age - in New Jersey as well as the rest of the nation.

“It is incumbent upon elder care providers to create homes for, and provide care for the elder LGBT community,” the company stated.

“We’ve transformed our entire community to incorporate the principals of person-directed care,” Green Hill Executive Director and President of Green Hill Donna Lazartic said. “The next step is specialized training to provide a welcoming home and person directed life and health care for our growing LGBT elder community.”

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Photo: Green Hill